Many Make the Supreme Sacrifice. What About the Rest of Us?

On a shadow box shelf in our guest bathroom is displayed a paper booklet from the U.S. Office of Price Administration, a World War II agency formed to help the war effort. It is my father’s War Ration Book containing stamps of apparently various values. These stamps were to be used for goods that were being rationed so that enough materiel was available to our troops. Gasoline, tires, meat, sugar, nylon, and silk were some of the many items subject to rationing. Even bicycles were on the list.

On the back of the ration stamp booklet was the following: IMPORTANT: When you have used your ration, salvage the TIN CANS, and WASTE FATS. They are needed to make munitions for our fighting men. Cooperate with your local Salvage Committee.

We ask our volunteer military to fight for us, and they know that there is a possibility that they may have to make the supreme sacrifice. They do so willingly. The current recession notwithstanding, we as U.S. citizens are asked to sacrifice little for this war effort. Instead of a tax increase or a temporary war surcharge, we cry for our taxes to be even lower. We do not need to sacrifice to buy sugar and meat anymore – production is apparently plentiful. Yet the real costs in billions of tax dollars are flowing into the war theatre using borrowing to fund the whole shebang. It is de rigueur to say that we are borrowing from China for our day-to-day expenses so we are financing our war with bonds sold to foreign investors. Not necessarily a bad thing in moderation, but lately we would be in a world of hurt should all those bonds be called.

Raising taxes is anathema to politicians no matter the need. But a war surcharge, with total transparency of the money raised and spent, might actually get widespread approval from the citizens. At least we could see where that money was going.

Of course, the cost of the currents wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are far less costly than WW II, when war costs were almost 40% of (then) GNP. Today, the war costs are about 1.2% (2008) of GDP, actually a minor number. Yet few Americans other than military families feel that they are doing anything directly to help with the war effort. Even those opposed to the wars are quick to say they still support our troops. So maybe we should all put a little of our money where our collective mouths are and support our country’s efforts at fighting terrorism abroad. It would be a lot less messy than collecting used bacon grease.

Attention Must Be Paid

Did anyone notice the latest mid-term campaign ads? Did anyone see what the issues were, besides the variety of nastiness used to impugn one another? We heard about health care, good and bad. We heard more about earmarks, the crushing deficit and national debt.

But did anyone hear a political ad mentioning, even in passing, that we are engaged in the draw down from one war in Iraq, and the ramping up of another war in Afghanistan? Did anyone mention the sacrifices that are being made by the men and woman in the Armed Services? We have dedicated volunteers who have joined a branch of the U.S. military who were not even mentioned in this very important election.

The cost of those wars has driven up the deficit sharply and will continue to do so for at least the next four years, if not more. No mention of the brave work our people in uniform do to keep the terrorists on the run.

Ben Stein, the noted columnist, said last week, using his often-used line, that Attention Must Be Paid to these increasingly hard slogs of war creating a huge money pit from which we may not be able to climb out of. He was appalled that no one mentioned the soldiers, marines, and others fighting for their lives. The pols were too busy thinking of winning, and then becoming a thorn in the sides of the other party; maybe even their own party, openly stating that they would not compromise to get anything done for the country.

Consent of the Governed

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed..."

Declaration of Independence, United States of America, 1776

Although most Americans are familiar with the first sentence above, fewer know the second as well. The mid-term election brings this “consent” to the fore, in keeping with our right to vote and our right to “vote them out”. In most mid-term elections, the party in power loses congressional seats, but the change in House seats in this election was historic.

The “governed” or most of them anyway, have decided that the losers no longer had their “consent.” And as much as one might be dismayed with the results, it is this cornerstone of our democracy that makes us great.

We stood (and still stand) to lose this greatness if our representatives cannot grasp the intention of the voters. No party gained or lost a mandate here. It was clear that the people were angry with both parties and just wanted to see them get something done.

It does seem, however, that fiscal conservatism was the “flavor of the day”. With the Wall Street Bailouts and other TARP programs, the expanding deficit, and unemployment, the people have spoken that the current road is leading to disaster.

The discerning voter should, however, be careful what they wish for. For instance, “repealing” Obamacare carries with it all of the good parts too. Letting banks fail probably would not have been too good for us. But it was never explained well and worse yet, there were no rules set for the beneficiaries of the taxpayer largesse. The banks and investment house continue to chug on giving raises and bonuses that make even good, staunch, free market Republicans blanch. There must be some controls because humans tend to look for the loopholes, in laws and in life, and without some curbs, rank larceny is inevitable.

So let’s hope that the Republicans truly feel that they must remain humble, and that the Democrats will temper their spending and Nanny-State ideals just tad. If so, there may be hope for the future with America holding onto and improving our greatness. No one can expect to have 100% of their beliefs forced on the rest, but a little give and take might get everyone at least “half a loaf,” which is said to be better than none.

The Angry American Electorate

I am so glad that the election will bring the end to these silly, offensive, unfair, and just plain ornery political ads on TV and radio. Many say this is the worst it has ever been. Maybe so, because it feels like it, but in my brief foray into political history going back to Lincoln, there have always been nasty people who cannot stop themselves from hurtling invectives; the truth be damned.

America is angry. Not just the vocal Tea Partyers, but far more if the polls are correct. The people wanted immediate fixes to long-term problems, and the Democrats, mostly the President charged into the storm only to find that it was tougher than expected.

This election, it seems, is going to be near historic for Congressional seats lost to the party in power. The polls differ somewhat but it is clear that the GOP will claim at least the 39 seats it needs in the House. The Senate is debatable.

But I have to say that Republicans and Tea Partyers should tread lightly in their rejoicing what they might see as a win. The American people of all stripes are angry and it ain’t just at the Dems. They are smart enough to know that President Obama did not create all of this mess. He may just have underestimated what it would take to fix. Well heck, he DID underestimate, no doubt.

So I am cautiously hopeful for the future. Not that I will enjoy Republican domination (remember that power corrupts), but if this is about change, then let’s hope they use this change to move forward and not get stuck in constant partisan gridlock. Say a prayer for America.

The American Franchise - Get Out and Vote!

I cannot remember an election in my lifetime, especially a mid-term race, which was so overwhelming to the casual observer. Even if one did not watch television, the “signs, signs, everywhere signs” are worse than ubiquitous if that is possible.

The basic nastiness is not new, but the level of rancor seems at a new high (or low). Pollsters say that negativity works, but for me, a political ad that clearly is stretching for the truth turns me off to the sponsoring candidate.

All this pessimism has made some feel that it is not worth voting; that if there was a choice they would vote “None of the Above”, which they can actually do in Nevada and maybe other places.

Despite all that, the one franchise we have in this country is the opportunity to be heard though the ballot. Each vote does count, and this is how we get those folks to listen.

I am not urging a vote for any particular party or viewpoint; instead I want to urge every citizen to do a little research and not vote blindly, but to cast an educated ballot. The electorate is a powerful thing as I alluded to in a previous post on the book, “Obama Wars”. If you cannot make it to the polls on November 2 (or just don’t want to) stop by or write your municipal clerk for an absentee ballot. My wife and I did and have already cast our votes two weeks ago. The cash spent on attack ads this week is wasted on us. Our die is already cast.

Educating Rita, Along With Tyrone, Miguel, and Jing Wei

The force-out of Michelle Rhee from the Washington D.C. school system may turn out to be OK. Without debating her methods too much here, it was clear that she had begun some necessary tasks to upgrade the D.C school system.

As Chancellor, she fired teachers who were not performing to the highest level, but may have caught a few good ones in the purge. Regardless, she saw that something needed to be done with the U.S. education system and it could not be done in dribs and drabs; rather she saw the need to make wholesale changes to get the attention of not only the teachers (and their union), but to make parents take a look at the learning that their children were NOT getting.

Tests were terrible, the drop out rate was approaching the graduation rate, gangs are thriving, the buildings were crumbling, and the impact of all that would be felt many years out.

DCPS Chancellor Rhee has now set the tone so it is up to the new mayor, along with the new Chancellor to decide to keep up the pressure and moved toward excellence, or resume the status quo and let the education system continue to be an embarrassing national eyesore for the world to see and to comment on the eventual fall of the United States. We have already fallen too far in math and science, but let’s hope that the D.C. model can be finessed enough to be used across the country. Let’s hope that all Americans can see that education is the key – the great equalizer – that can propel us to the greatness and leadership we once knew. It is not too late.

"Obama Wars" - A Must-read for All Americans Who Want the Wars to End

Bob Woodward’s latest book, “Obama Wars”, was one of those books I could not put down. It read almost like a spy novel that I had to continue to turn pages to see what happened next. My Kindle got heavier as I read each night, falling eventually onto my chest or the bed as I struggled to stay awake.

As an amateur student of history I was fascinated by what Woodward learned about what was going on in the White House with the war planning for Iraq and then Afghanistan. I felt like I was in the same room with the “principals”: General Jones, Secretary of Defense Gates, Secretary of State Clinton, Leon Panetta, and a few others. The dialogue is both intriguing as well as surprisingly mundane.

I was shocked that I understood all that they were talking about, and it often reminded me of many discussions I have had with colleagues on what to do about the two wars in which the U.S. is engaged. The same issues and “what ifs” have likely been thrashed out in offices, dorm rooms, and living rooms across the country. It surprised me how often nothing gets settled in any discussion, even when the President declares it settled (think number of troops to send in to Afghanistan). It seemed like Woodward had a spy cam on the wall of the Situation Room in the West Wing to be able to report such detailed meetings (along with the constant rehashing).

Book reviews have stated that the book title does not just mean the military wars the President is managing. It is clear that there has been (and certainly continues to be) an occasional battle among the principals and “sub-principals” on how to conduct the nation’s business. Now that Chief of Staff Emanuel is gone, that may ease some, but there is still enough pettiness to go around so the internal war marches on.

I was struck (and somewhat disappointed) that these major players in the White House had no real clue about what the right plan of action was in the wars our military is fighting. Some think we are in a quagmire, ala Viet Nam. Some think that we can never win over the Afghan people enough to get them to take over their own country. No one feels that Karzai is playing it straight (if he even could) and that he is just an opportunist taking what he can bleed from the U.S. and coalition forces.

Finally, I was pleasantly surprised at how much the principals, including the President, were concerned about the will of the American people. Knowing that much of the public is tired of wars, they understand do not have carte blanche to do whatever they want. Even the President. Read the book – it is enlightening in a sort of scarily unenlightened way.